That's the confusing part. Was this deep-red derphead actually saying he DIDN'T want to allow people to carry their Second Amendment Rights with them into the state's Legislative House because he's a pussy who's scared of black metal/plastic spontaneously firing at him and his children?

I feel sorry for the guy. You know he tried so hard to find a way to spin this. When he realized this was the best he could work up, he probably felt like a farking idiot. Would have done better just letting it go.

I'm going to go ahead and give this guy some credit. Outside the obviously stupid attempt to cover up what he said, his comment was not in fact that bad. He managed to not make a sexist, racist, or demeaning comment about the poor. Then again if he had, he probably would have made like KFC and doubled down.

UncomfortableSilence:I'm going to go ahead and give this guy some credit. Outside the obviously stupid attempt to cover up what he said, his comment was not in fact that bad. He managed to not make a sexist, racist, or demeaning comment about the poor. Then again if he had, he probably would have made like KFC and doubled down.

Lionel Mandrake:That might be the most ridiculous attempt at walking back a statement EVAR

But it's Kansas, so I'm going to assume none of this will make any difference in any way.

If there's any bright side (and there isn't), it's that he told the truth: He's a prick and afraid of people with guns because of it. He doesn't want the same rules that are for the rubes, he doesn't want people carrying guns where he works.

Musikslayer:Lionel Mandrake: That might be the most ridiculous attempt at walking back a statement EVAR

But it's Kansas, so I'm going to assume none of this will make any difference in any way.

If there's any bright side (and there isn't), it's that he told the truth: He's a prick and afraid of people with guns because of it. He doesn't want the same rules that are for the rubes, he doesn't want people carrying guns where he works.

Subby here,

I kind of botched the interpretation of the quotation. He's actually in favor of the bill. He was responding to a question about whether or not people would be uncomfortable or afraid of coming to the Capitol if people could carry concealed there. His response was basically that people shouldn't be afraid of people with guns, it's the "redshirts" that are the real problem.

It's not the worst thing a Kansas politician has ever said but it's extremely tone-deaf, especially given how unpopular both the gun legislation and the anti-teacher bill were, at least in some areas.

TheNewJesus:These people need the real Enlightenment, in the form of a decent public education. Sadly they did not receive it.

Actually, part of the problem is that they're stuck in the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment concern with government power is part of what drives their obsession with things like nullification and general anti-gub'mint nuttery, and it's the Enlightenment's focus on individuality and personal freedom, as reflected in the founding fathers, that makes them think we live in a pure meritocracy -or that the world would be a pure meritocracy if only government didn't exist. This latter worldview also comes from an Enlightenment anthropology that views human beings as inherently rational seekers of self-interest.

Modern psychology, economics, sociology and political science has pretty much debunked a lot of what the Enlightenment stood for, even if we are right to admire most of its ideals. The problem with the US isn't that it hasn't had the Enlightenment -it's that it's had the Enlightenment AND NOTHING ELSE.

sabreWulf07:Easily the worst correction attempt I've seen since 'blah' people.

Yeah, I hear the Oracle from the Matrix in my head when I read something like that - "Not too bright, though."

Especially since colonists didn't refer to to British Army soldiers as Redcoats - they referred to them as "Regulars" (as in well-regulated) - trained soldiers. Paul Revere wouldn't have shouted "The British are coming!" because at that time, he was British as was every other colonist. He would've shouted, "The Regulars are coming!"